Chapter 37 #2
“It means, at first glance, Lord Porter handed over his shares of Porter Capital to you and your siblings, just as was required of him by law. It wasn’t a gift, though; it was a loan.
Every month, your trust fund pays your father for the shares he divested to you, with interest. This would be legally questionable on its own, but there are stipulations hidden in the contracts, which essentially means he can collect interest proportional to your returns on Porter Capital shares.
For example, if you make a ten percent return, he will make a ten percent return.
There is no material gain for you in those shares, which makes your trust fund a funnel for his own financial gains without him technically needing to own anything. ”
Holy… I stare at the man across from me, stunned by what he’s telling me, and totally unable to comprehend how he still looks happy. “I’m sorry, but none of that seems like good news for me.”
Mr. Allister’s smile widens. “It means you have a tremendous amount of leverage, Blair. Trust me, your father does not want this contract put before a judge. For one thing, the dispute would become public record, and for another, the judge may choose to honor the spirit of the contract. Which was to facilitate your father’s divestment of his financial interests, in order to hold public office.
” He leans forward, staring into my face.
“You may walk away with his shares of Porter Capital, free and clear. A gift, as it should have been.”
Swallowing, I gaze back at him, as the full implications of this settle over me at last. “What if I don’t want his shares in Porter Capital?” I ask. “Or my own, for that matter. What if I want nothing to do with it?”
I don’t mention Damien’s suspicions about the break-in, or the search warrant, which was supposedly executed at my brother’s office, that still hasn’t been publicly reported.
While his smile fades, Mr. Allister seems to have suspected this would be the case, because he doesn’t need time to think about it.
“There are two ways we can make that happen,” he informs me promptly.
“The first is to take your father to court and challenge the validity of the contract. At the end of which, you would be able to sell your shares at full market value. It would be a very long, very public process, but in the end, it would result in a significant amount of money.”
Oh, is that all?
“And the second?” I ask, a little pleadingly, because I’m really hoping it’s better than option one.
Like he knows what I’m thinking, Mr. Allister chuckles.
“I could approach your family members and their legal counsel, privately, and notify them of your intention to challenge the contract in court. They would be given the option to head this off early, and to buy you out of your ownership shares, at a below-market rate. The proceeds of which would be put into a new trust, which is controlled by you, and you alone.” He winks.
“It would be quieter, faster, but may result in a slightly smaller yet still significant amount of money.”
A hysterical little laugh bubbles from between my lips because a slightly smaller yet tremendous amount of money sounds just fine to me, and I don’t need long to think about it. “I would like option number two, please.”
“Yes, I thought you might,” agrees Mr. Allister, the corners of his lips still turned up as he shuffles through his paperwork, searching for a contract.
“I should mention something else, though. Having litigated cases like this in the past, family matters which involve a great deal of money, I can tell you they very often end in estrangement.”
I’d figured as much, but if even the tiniest part of me still craved the love of Albert and Lydia Porter, I wouldn’t be feeling the way I am now, as though a tremendous pressure I’ve been bearing all my life was suddenly lifted away.
“Thank you. I understand.” I get to my feet, offering Mr. Allister my hand over the table. He stands, too, and takes it before handing over the form—which he explains gives him my consent to act on my behalf in this matter—and tells me to take my time looking it over.
Once I’ve seen him out, I go in search of Damien.
Thornhurst is silent as always as I stroll through the familiar rooms, my eyes roaming over the paintings, draperies, and furniture, seeing it all with fresh eyes. Even given the association this place has with my family, my memories here aren’t all bad.
This is the house with the pool that reminded me I’m an excellent swimmer.
This is the house where I lost my independence and took it all back.
This is the house where I fell in love.
Thornhurst gave me a lot, but I don’t owe this place anything. When I leave, I’m never coming back.
I find Damien in the kitchen, arms folded and face solemn, staring out the window at the snowy grounds. Hearing me enter, he turns, his expression softening. “How did it go?”
“Good, I think.” Crossing to where he’s standing, I pull myself up onto the counter across from him, sitting with my feet dangling against the cabinets, and stare into his face. “My parents seem to have structured the whole thing as incomprehensibly as humanly possible.”
His warm brown eyes wrinkle at the corners. “Sounds about right.”
“I think I’ve got the gist of it, though.
” I hesitate, gripping the edge of the countertop.
“Dad has been doing some really shady stuff with Porter Capital and my trust fund, stuff that would look bad for him if it went before a judge. Mr. Allister thinks I’m in a position to settle this quietly, sell my shares of the company, and walk away.
I would make more money if we went the court route, but who knows how long that would take, and if they’re under investigation of some sort…
” I trail off, lifting my shoulder with a grimace. “What do you think?”
Smiling gently, Damien shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter what I think. This is your decision, Blair.”
Trusting myself and my instincts isn’t something I have a lot of experience in, but I give it a shot, listening to the new but growing voice that comes directly from my heart.
The corners of my vision swim as I stare into the face of the bossy, noble, perfect man I’ve fallen in love with and tell him, “I don’t really want to be a Porter anymore. ”
Damien moves forward immediately, closing the distance between us in a single stride and hugging me.
He holds me while I cry. And cry. And cry.
Every time I think I’ve processed this and grieved the family I wanted but never had, something will remind me I haven’t. Now, though, the pain is different because knowing what I do now, I understand my parents in a way I didn’t before.
Albert and Lydia were frightened of me.
They treated me like my siblings by default and assumed that providing me the same lifestyle, privileges, and education would produce the same result.
Only, it was too late that they realized what they had done; handed the power to undo them, directly into the hands of the child they could not control.
They wanted me to stay frivolous and ill-informed.
They wanted me too occupied with partying to ever turn my mind toward more important matters.
They wanted me to be controllable, so I could never control him.
When I’ve finally run out of tears to cry, and the bonds around my chest have loosened, I lift my head to look at Damien. He meets my eyes and slowly lifts his hands to cradle my face, carefully wiping away the tears still wet on my cheeks.
“I’m not sure if anyone has ever told you this,” he tells me calmly, “but you are a force of nature, love. Nothing and no one can control you without your consent. If you’ve decided you don’t want to be a Porter anymore, you won’t be.”
The love I feel for this man might have grown to be a force of nature unto itself.
Sniffing, I reach out, settling my palms on his chest. “I want you to know I am being one hundred percent serious when I say that if anyone is rude to you ever again, I’m going to ruin their whole life.”
A bark of laughter greets my words, and he leans in to kiss my forehead. “I know you will,” he assures me placatingly.
Bristling, I lean back to glare at him. “Damien! I’m not kidding!”
“Of course you aren’t.”
We fall silent, and I look around at the cavernous kitchen we’re currently occupying, as another issue occurs to me. “We can’t stay here,” I tell him weakly. “When they find out what I’ve done… I don’t want to be around for it.”
Turning my attention back to the man before me, I meet Damien’s steady gaze, and whatever strain I felt at this eases. “Thankfully, I have a solution to that.”
“Oh?”
My heart flutters as I watch his handsome face stretch into that adorable, dimpled smile. “Run away with me, princess?”